West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-06

few weeks, and that she would not see
him again for a long, long time. In fact,
the peculiarly morbid disposition of the
/ young man Ind finally become repelleut
TO her bright nature, and though She was
always afectionate and kind to him, she
felt, unconsciously. a certain degree OF
relief in the thought of his absence.
You must not forget me Grace" he
said, feryently, at the moment Of her de-
/ parture. And the young girl answered,
gayly: mo fear OF that, Louis Even
\ If you never write TO any of us, shall
always remember you. For YOU arc my
cousin, you know-iust the same 10 me
as one of my brothers, -
/ Louis was about TO utter some protcsta-
ton respecting this announcement on
I Grace's part; but significant touch on
his shoulder from the hand OF Mr.. Mars
I den recalled that gentleman's stern pro-
: hibitions, and he contented himself with
I kissing with fervor the little hand that
Grace frankly placed within his own,
unheeding the fresh young face that was
held mp to him for n parting salute.
''How odd YOU are, Louis, not to kiss
me good-byev' she cried, gayly, as she
+ sprang into the carriage; remember, YOU
mu t write your first letter from Rome TO
me. And be sure you tell me what YOU
think about st. Peters and the Colosse-
um | wish were going with you 10
see them all"
"lf you only were ~ muttered Louis, as
the carriage drove away. ''There goes
my guardian angel, and must go forth
alone 10 meet the demon"
A few weeks later Louis Seabrook
sailed from New York for Europe. lie
did foil 10 - a., -, a -
one impaSsioncd love letter shortly after
his arrival; but the child. perplexcd. uu-
sympathizing, and half provoked with
what she called cousin Louis's fool
lShness, made no response to
his fervcnt protestations. Louis took
the hint, and the correspondence the e q.
at er was conducted on a more TRANQUIL
footing. To this change sharp reproof
from Mr.. Marsden, and treat of forbid
ding altogether any interchange OF let
ters, probably contributed largely. The
traveller wrote but seldom, but he often
sent tokens of regard and remembrance
to his uncle's family, and especially TO
trace One of these was a fine copy Of
the celebrated portrait of Caesar Borgia.
by Raphael, which is one of the noted art
trea ures of the BOrghese Palace. And
IN the strangely beautiful face, with the
evil tendencies of the inner nature look
ing from the large eyes and curving the
IN red lips, Mrs. Marsden rccog-
nlled with a shudder a strong re-
scmbance 20 the countenance Of her
nephew. Indeed. he alluded TO the
likeness of himself in one of the infre-
quent letters received from him during
his sojourn in Rome. ~ must be a true
descendant of the Borgias," he wrote.
Tor my likeness to the Raphael portrait
has been commented upon even by total
strangers, and when / went TO see nv
great-g grandfather, DIR. Mariui, when /
passed through Milan, the other day. his
first exclamation on beholding me ,yns
'Hou are like your mothers race By
the-way what wonderful old man he is
i have promised TO pay him a long visit
on my way back to Paris. and he tells me
that he will then confine TO my keeDing
sundry family relics of great Importance.
i confess that / am very curious to sec
him. He is nearl ninety years old now.
but preserves all his faculties unim-
paired"
few months later Louis wrote that
the promised visit had been paid.
and that DR. Marini had placed in his
hands some curious and antique ob e.ts.
several of which had at one time be
lon9ed TO the famous f,mily OF Popc
Alexander Borgia. Amongst these" he
wrote, ''is an ivory casket Of exquisite and
arti tic workmanship. 1t possess certain
singular properties which shall describ
when we meet" Next came the news
OF the death of the old doctor who had
seemed TO have lived thus long for the
express purpose of bestowing his cher.
ished heirlooms on his great-grandson
and sole direct descendant.
The two years that had been fixed rs
the period Of young Scabrook's absence
had nearly come to an end and he had
already written TO announce the date mt
which he would sail for home when hc
received from Mrs. Marsden the news Of
Grace's engagement to young and
talented lawyer, Stuart Hastings by
name. The match was one that was
satisfactory in every way to Mr.. and Mrs
Marsden, and, 10 do them Justice. they
had both looked upon the attachment Of
Louis for his cousin as a mere boyish
passion that had not survived the tests
OF time and absence This letter received
no response, but Louis wrote q few hurried
lines TO Grace, declaring his intention of
being present at her marriage. "And TO
prove 10 my pretty cousin that | bear her
no malice for the way that she has trifed
with my affections" he wrote:'T will
bring her wedding present such as few
brides in this nineteenth century have
ever seen"
But it was not till the day before that
fixed for the ceremony that Louis made
his appearance at the house of his aunt
lie received a warm welcome from Mrs
Marsden, who had always looked upon
him as one Of her own children.
You have grown tall and manly.
Louis she said after the first greetings
were no an end, "but you look wild
haggard aud feverish. Are you suffer
ing from malaria} You must not fall I'M
ON the very day Of yogr return-the eve
Of GNce's wedding day. Your playmate
Of bygone days would feel sorcly Qrievcd
If you were not to be present to NOR
row"
"Ah, yes where is Gnce2-I had for
gotten Grace" the young man responded.
hufricdly. 'I want to SIC hcr-I have
my weddinggift ready for her. and I
want to present 1t 10 her myself"
''io into the library, then, and 7 will
send her 10 you i'm moment. She Is inst
having her welding dress tried on for the
last time, and ] will tell hcr not take ia